White is a colour. So is black. And for European artist Maria-Marika Koenig, every colour has equal power in a painting. In her latest show Everything Is Colour, Koenig presents abstract oil paintings that explore the nature around her. The various hues, tones and shades used in the artworks illustrate ‘plurality and diversity of colours as a means of equality in a democratic society’. Says the artist about this series, ‘My paintings restore an emotional and above all a direct connection to nature. I want the viewer to be immersed in a non-artificial and lived reality’. And this reality doesn’t get more colourful.

Artistic Motivations: “My motivation comes from within. Since childhood I have always had the urge to create things with whatever medium was available. It is almost automatic. It could be an internal need to express myself, to stimulate others in some way with my art, provoke their thoughts or infect them with pleasure. Art as an act itself also motivates me to create more.”

Inspirations: “Orthodox Icons in Church, Greek philosophy, my parents’ art collection, ancient Greek sculptures and the modern and contemporary art at the Documenta exhibition. The culture of Asia, especially India where I have lived for nearly 10 years has influenced me enormously.”

On the wall at home: “There are so many artists I like that the list would be endless; a few of them are William Turner, Egon Schiele, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Georg Baselitz, Gerhard Richter, Yannis Moralis, Panagiotis Tetsis.”

Concerns that find a place in your art: “Right now I am concerned about the injustices inflicted on people because of what culture, faith or region they belong to. The inaccessibility to education and healthcare for so many people and the refugee crisis is one result of these circumstances.”

If not an artist, you would be…“I would always be an artist. When I was young I wanted to study art but my parents were against it. Instead I studied History of Art, Interior Design and Fashion Design and all of this did not work out for me…there is no other option for me than to be an artist.”

Everything Is Colour is on display at Jamaat Art Gallery, Mumbai (Ground Floor, National House, Tulloch Road, Colaba) until November 21, 2015.